Deepika Padukone rejected ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ due to gangster role?

Contrary to what many may think, Alia Bhatt was not Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s first choice for his upcoming film, ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’.

Bhansali had reportedly reserved the role for Deepika Padukone, however Deccan Chronicle reveals a source saying that Padukone was hesitant about doing two ‘lady gangster’ roles in a row.

Rumour has it that Padukone was already playing a gangster in Vishal Bhardwaj’s ‘Sapna Didi’, a story written by Hussain Zaidi, who also wrote Bhansali’s ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’. ‘Sapna Didi’ got shelved, and while Padukone would have happily returned to act for Bhansali, she was keen on co-producing ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ with Bhansali.

“But he was not ready to do that. They parted amicably over the issue. That’s how Alia came into the project. But Bhansali can’t live too far away from Deepika’s territory. She will be back in his cinema with his next Baiju Bawra,” added the source.

‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ is scheduled for theatrical release on 11th September 2020.